Manufacture of slide fasteners



' Jan. 2, 1945.

L.- M. RABINOWITZ MANUFACTURE OF SLIDE FASTENERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. 16, 1942 ATTOR EY 1945- M. RABINOWITZ MANUFACTURE OF SLIDEFASTENERS Filed Sept. 16, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 PIC-3.4.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Jan. 2, 1945. M. RABINOWITZ I I MANUFACTURE OF SLIDE FA STENERSFiled Sept. 16, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 /& ATTORNEY 1945 RAB |Nowl'rz ,28

MANUFACTURE OF SLIDE FASTENERS Filed Sept. 16, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 g jI-NVEI JTOR. BY s 1 I ATTORNEY with the tape.

d and mechanism in scoop production, lighter Patented Jan. 2, 1945- oFcE';

MANUFACTURE OF SLIDE rAsrciNnns- 7 Louis M. Rabinowitz, New York, N. Y.,ss gnor to Lamar Slide Fastener Corp., New York, N.' Y., a corporationof New York j- 7 Application September 16, 1942, Serial-No. 458,589 (01.153- 1) 9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the manufacture of slide fastenersor so-called zippers and is more particularly directed to amethod andmeans for producing scoops or interlockable elements of such fastenersfrom preprocessed lengthsof appropriate material, and successivelyclamping the scoops in spaced relation upon the a usual tape, in acontinuing operation, in the formation of the fastener stringers.

In accordance with standard practice, in the production of slidefasteners, wire or other suitable stock is passed between cooperatingdies for deformation to produce a connected series of partially profiledscoops. This preformed stock is subsequently introduced to machines forcomf pleting the formation of the scoops and clamping them to the beadedportion of a tape in the production of the fastener stringers. However,the machines now employed for producing the stringers are of a more orless complicated, design, with concomitant high installation andmaintenance costs, which are necessarily reflected in the ultimate costof the product to the consumer, the

waste of material in the formation of the scoops, together with thelimited production capacity of the machines being contributing factorsin the fixing of such ultimate cost.

Therefore, the primary object of this invention is to generally improvethe manufacture of slide fasteners and more especially to eliminatewaste and increase the rate of production of the stringers in a simpleand efficient manner so as to at tain more economical production than ispossible in the utilization of present methods of manufacture.

More specifically, it is an important object of this invention toprovide a compact and dependable mechanism, capable of high-speedoperation for automatically performing a series of co-related steps in acontinuing operation thereof, for forming the scoops or interlockablefastener ele- "ments "from preprocessed material and assembling themupon tape in their final form for producing the fastener stringers.

' Another object of my invention is to provide a method and means forproducing stringers for slide fasteners, as aforesaid, in which waste ofthe material from which the scoops are formed is eliminated, thematerial heretofore becoming scrapIin the functioning of existingmechanisms,

being utilized in the practicing of my method in increasing the strengthand rigidity of the scoops and the security of their interlockingengagement By the employment of'my meththe operation of the mechanism,

gauge wireor other stock may be employed in their manufacture, with aresulting decreasein material costs, without "detracting from" theemciency and durabilityof thefaste ner in'which they may beincorporated.

It is also an object of my invention to provide in synchronized relationin a, continuing operation, of the mechanism at high speed, the'noveland efficient coordination of the elements of the assembly insuringdependable and accurate functioning of the mechanism under'such extremeoperating conditions. j l

' Other objects and advantages flowing from the practicing, ofmyinvention will becomejmanifest as the description ,proceedsj l For thepurposes of this'disclosure; I 'have elected to' show andd'es'cribe apreferred mechanism for carryinginy invention into effect. However,.various structuralflchangias".ihay be made in my mechanism tomeetdifierent produc'- tion and other requirements, within the purviewof the appended claims;

r In the drawing- V Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved mechanismfor producing stringers for slide'fasteners in a seriesof synchronizedsteps of a continuing high speed operation. I

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the machine shown-inFigure 1. 7 v

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Figure, 1. l

Figure 41 is a longitudinal section onthe line 4-4of Figure 1; I I v i IFigure o isanenla'rged sectionaldetail of the cooperating elements ofthe assembly for completing the formationoffthe scoops and attachingthem'to the tape V s.

Figure 6 is a view in perspective, partly broken, of the dies forsevering the preformed" scoops from the continuous lengths of previouslyprocessed stock, completing their romaine and clamping them to thetapein successive steps i n Figure 7 is an enlarged detaiL'in elevatiom ofthe means for arresting the operation of the dies for the progression ofthe tape through the mechanism to produce an area of demarcation betweencontiguousstringers. 1 :v t :15;-

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the structure of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional vew of the mounting of the presser footfor feeding the strip of preformed material to the dies.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in which like characters ofreference are employed to designate similar parts in the several views,the preprocessed stock is introduced to the mechanism of the presentinvention from the left, as shown, in Figure 1, for the sequentialperformance of the several steps of the continuing opera;- tion in whichthe fastener stringer is produced. This preprocessed material may beflexible wire or other suitable stock which has been passed:

between made and female diesin a preceding independent operation, todeform thewire in producing a series of connected partially profiled orshaped scoops, the processed wire usually being wound upon a reel fromwhich it is withdrawn, as required, in the operation of thestringer-producing mechanism.

In the functioning of the mechanism, the preprocessed stock is deliveredor fed to the dies, includinga compound die, which are effective inshearing the individual partially formed elements from the, strip stock,the respective elements be-, ing subjected to further shaping in asucceeding step, the'final shaping of the scoops and their clampingengagement with the bead ofthe staa tionary tape being concurrentlyeffected in response to the functioning of the compound die, in thefinal step of the die operations. The tape, a's herein shown, is drawnupwardly through the die area in a step-by-step or intermittentmovement, for uniformly defining the spacing of the scoops thereon andperiodically, as may be predetermined, the operation of the dies isarrested while the movement of the tape continues, t

provide gaps between adjacent series of scoops aflixed to thetape,,within the area of which the tape may be severed to formindividual stringers. Stringers'of any desired length'may be produced byappropriate adjustment of the die arresting means, as will becomeapparent. The operation ofthe mechanism is continuous, so that severalthousand feet of preprocessed stock and the requisite yardage of tapefor producing a required quantity of stringers'may be run therethroughwithout interruption of" the operation of the curately shaped withoutwaste in the functioning of the cooperating dies.

The processed strip, indicate at s, as introduced to the machine, ismoved to the dies in successive steps by frictional feed mechanism,including a corrugated contact plate In forming a part of the presserfoot l2, the strip-engaging surfaces of the plate [0, preferablyconforming to the contour of the opposed surfacesof the strip s-. Thepresser foot 12 embodies an upright bearing portion l3, slotted as atMa, the slot merging into a transverse annular bore for the receptionof'the conical or tapered ends of the studs M by means off'which thepresser-footis mounted for rock- 'ing movement within the bifurcatedstandard l5 of the slide 16, reciprocablerelative to the machine bed II.An arm" l1, fixed to the slide 16, carries a roller or cam follower l8which is maintainedin constant engagement with the periphluby a, springmounted on by thev slide and a post, 22 bed. A second spring 20a,spanning the cry of the cam the. pin 2| carried seated in the machinesupported between the fitting l5a,

mechanism, as is frequently'necessary'in prior art .mechanisms, thescoops-being uniformly and acof, the spring-canted pressure-foottherewith, the

slide receding at the termination of the stripfeedingmovementunder theinfluence of the a spring 26. In the recession of the slide, and theconcurrent outward movement of the presserfoot, the latter is oscillatedin opposition to the spring 20a, as the contact plate in traverses thestrip s which is stationary during the interval in which the shearingdie is functioning, as will become apparent.

As the preformed strip 8 is advanced to the die position through thebifurcated standard 15, which serves as a guide, the forward end thereofimpinges against the stationary die 25 seated in the support 26 disposedtransversely of the machine bed, a female or shearing die 21 slidablymounted in the block 28 reciprocable in said support 26, coactingtherewith, to sever the individual scoop elements from the strip in thetermination of its descending movement in impingement with the bufferblock 29. This, excursion of the die 21- is cushioned by a, spring 29a.interposedbetween the base of the recess 30a in the support 26 and acollar 30 on the rod 31 dependent, from the buffer block for movement inthe guide 32. The female punch or die, as will be noted, is biasedtoward the strip s by a com pression spring 33; supported between theopposed surfaces of the die and the reciprocable block 28, the downwardmovement of the die being limited by the lug 34- traversing the slot 35in said block. A second compression spring 36, seated in the support 26,abuts upon the arm 3] extending horizontally from the reciprocable block28, to function in biasing the latter block upwardly to reset the punchor female die, in the, upward excursion of the die actuating lever 38which is rockable on the pin 39.

The lever 38 carries a cam roller 40 which is traversed by the eccentriccam 4i revolublewith theshaft 42, the upper end of said lever overlyingthe head of the block 28 and being; threaded gagement with the work inthe upward movement of the block 23, as previously set forth.

Mounted in juxtaposition to the shearing die 21 for relative oppositereciprocation in a. horizontal plane, are a pair of slides 43 and. 44 onwhich are mounted dies 45 and 46. These latter dies, which will behereinafter described in great,- er detail, are of the-compound type andfunc;- tion to complete the formation of a scoop that has been severedfrom the strip s and clamp it to the bead b of the tape t-in a singledie action. The slides 43 and 44, are provided with cam rollers 41: and48 maintained in engagement with the cams 49. and 50 rotatingrespectively with the parallel shafts 42 and 5|, by the'springs 52 andpreformed strip s and the scoops are formed and 53, the slides beingurged inwardly in opposition to the springs 52 and 53, to function thesupported dies 45 and 49, as their cam rollers are traversed by theactive surfaces of said earns 49 and 50. See Figure 3.

The tape 15 upon which the scoopsare secured in the operation of thedies 45 and 46, as aforesaid, is fed vertically through the dieposition, passing between suitable friction guide rollers, from a reelor other carrier located beneath the bed of the machine in conformingtraversing engagement 'with a drum 54 fixed to the shaft 55, disposedtransversely of the machine. oppositely mount ed on said shaft 55 is atoothed wheel 56 which is pawl actuated to effect rotationof the drum 54in a step-by-step or intermittent movement. The actuating pawl 57,embodying a nose 57a sequentially engageable with the teeth of the wheel56, is pivotally mounted beneath said .wheel, as at 58, on an uprightarm 59 of a slide 69, the nose of the pawl being retained in engagement.with the teeth of the wheel 55 by a spring 6i attached to.the pawl andto the arm of a post 62 rigid with the slide 69. This slide 60 alsocarries a cam roller, as at 63, maintained in contact with the face ofthe cam 54 mounted on the aforesaid shaft 42, by the spring 55, theouter end of the slide being supported bythe idler 65. As will beseen'from Figure 4, the active surface 64a of the cam 64 is conformed toimpel the slide to the left, in opposition to the spring 55, to rotatethe toothed wheel and the concentric drum 54 one step in each revolution.of the shaft 42, the slide moving in the opposite direction, under theinfiuence-of said spring 65, as the roller rides the dwell of the cam,to position the pawl in engagement with the wheel 58 for the nextrotative step thereof.

As will be apparent, the tape is advanced stepby-step, as justdescribed, in synchronism with the functioning of the forming andclamping dies, the completed stringers, which are defined by gaps orblank spaces on the tape between adjacent series of scoops, produced ashereinafter described, traversing the drum to the take-off chute 61. Ashoe 68, supported from an arm 69 mounted on a bracket 19 bolted to thebearing member H' of the drum shaft 55, is biased against h p riph ry ofthe drum by'a suitable spring 12,

as shown in Figure 1, and functionsto maintain.

the tape in frictional engagement with the drum in its passagethereover, the shoe cooperating with tape-engaging elementsat the dieposition to maintain the tape sufficiently taut and in the correctattitude relative to the clamping dies, for the emcient performance ofthe clamping operation. These tape-engaging elements comprise a pair ofoppositely disposed guides I3 and 14 located parallel to and beneath theclamping dies 45 and 46 (see Figure the spacing of'the opposed surfacesof the guides defining a path for the movement of the tape therebetween.The guide 13 is fixed relative to one surface of the tape, while theguide 14 is laterally adjustable relative to the opposite surfacethereof, in engagement with the block 15. The block 15 is pivotallymounted, as at 1B, in the bearing 11, a spring l8'connected to anaxially projecting pin 19 on said block and to a hand adjusting screw8t), as at 80a, provides for variations in the tention of the spring 18,to regulate the pressure'of the guide 14 upon thetape, so that the tapeis yieldably retained in the requisite positionfor passage between thedies. i I

Since the tape t is continuous, -as is-also'the clamped to the tap'einacontinuing operation, in .order to produce fastener stringers of thedesired lengths, without slowing down the rate of production, a simpleand novel arrangement is employed for arresting the advancement of thestrip 8 into the die position, by locking the female punch orshearingdie 21 in its lowermost postion, the die in this position gripping thestrip in engagement with the buffer block and immobilizing it.

In its lowermost position, the legs of the die, indicated at 2111,straddlethe raised surface 2% of the buffer block, so that the endportion of the strip 8 is clamped between the-die and the buffer blocksurface 29b. The spring 29a biases the buffer block against the opposedsurfaces of the' die, causing the forward edge of the strips to impingeagainst the stationary die 25, so that the strip cannot advance. Whilethe strip is held against advancement, as pointed outgthe plate ll) ofthe presser foot [2 frictionally glides over the surfaces of the strip,during the continuing operation of the strip-feeding elements, as here'-tofore described. Preferably, the plate in i of softer material thanthat of the strip 8, to eliminate the possibility of abrasion of thepreformed surfaces thereof, in the movement of the strip thereover,while it remains stationary. As heretofore pointed out, while themovement'of the strip 3 isarreste'd, the intermittent advancement of thetape 1? continues, as explained, but since no further scoop elements aresupplied for .fixation to the tape, when the strip movement ceases, agap or blank area in the tape results.

The mechanism for arresting the operation of -the die 21 and themovement of the strip 5 is actuated from the shaft 5| and includes abellcrank lever pivotally mounted, as at 82a, onthe top of the standard83, for rotation in a horizontal plane, parallel to that of the head ofthe strikerscrew 38a of the die-actuating lever 38. The minor arm 8| ofsaid bell-crank, which is offset below the major arm 82 thereof, beingapertured for mounting a clevis fitting 84 thereon for rela tiverotative movement on the axis of the at taching stud 83a. A turnbuckle84a connects the clevis 84 to thecrank end 85 of the arm 86 fixed to,the shaft 81, horizontally mounted in the aforesaid standard 83, a lever88, likewise rigid with said shaft, carrying a roller 89 disposed forriding the link-chain 90, the roller being held in contact with thechain by the action of the spring 9| connected to the crank 85 and a pin92 seated i in the top of said standard, which is slotted adjacent thepin, as at 83b, to permit the .arm to extend thereabove, as shown inFigure 7. The chain traverses the angularly offset sprockets 93 and 94,the sprocket 93 being fixed to the shaft 95 rotating in bearings in thestandard 83, while the sprocket 94 is adjustably mounted on the machinebed, as at 96 to facilitate chain adjustments and replacements. Theshaft 95 is driven from the'shaft 5|, a worm or spiral gear 91 carriedby the axial extension 5Ia of the latter shaft, in mesh with the Wormgear 98, transmitting torque to the shaft 95 through the gear 98, pinion98a mounted on shaft 95a and gear 99 fixed to said shaft 95, inwardly ofthe sprocket 93.

Mounted on adjacent links of the chain 99', are a pair of cammingelements I00, the effective surfaces of which are disposed forengagement bythe roller 89, as the chain 90 moves upon the sprockets 93and 94. In its normal. non-effective position, the disposition of 'the'bell-crank lever issuch that'the outer end: of thei-maiorarm- 82 is inradially spaced'relation to and clear of the head of the striker-screw30a, (see Figs. 1. and 2'), the roller 89; riding upon the links of the;chain 90, as the shaft 95 is driven in timed rela tion to theperformance of the die operations, requisite for severing apredetermined number oi scoop elements from the strip s. However, whenthe; leading cam element Iengages beneath the roller 89, the. shaft 8!is rocked counterclockwise, the concurrent movement of the. arm 86, inopposition to the spring SI, effecting clockwise rotative movement ofthe bell crank lever to locate the end of its major arm 82 in engagementwith the head of the strikerscrew 30a to hold the lever 38 inoperativein its die-actuating position, as the cam 4I Continues to rotate beneaththe roller 40.. The. length of the gap, or blank area in the tape isdetermined by the in:- terval during which the arresting mechanism is infunctioning condition, this period being controlled by the .number ofcam elements that are associated with the chain 9.0, for sequentialengagement with the roller 89.; also the length of the stringers may bevaried by using chains of different lengths, with the appro-v priateadjustment of thesprocket 94 for the operation of the mechanism asdescribed.

Another important feature of the present invention resides in the novelmethod of making a stringer from a preformed continuous scoop strip.corresponding to strip s as herein described and shown in enlargedperspective in Figure 6. The form shown comprises adjacent humpedportions I0l defining opposite corresponding cavities. I0 2 to providethe requisite male and female elements of cooperating scoop units. ArmsI03 are formed in the sides of strip of the configuration shown, theindividual scoop elements being sheared or cut from the continuous strips, as will be described in connection with Figure 6, into the individualforms shown at I04 and I05.

The punching dies 25 and 21 are shaped to include a singlehumped sectionI01 and the longitudinally extending jaws, tongues or wings I06;Elements, I04 and I05. are the intermediate forms of the scoops prior tothe clamping thereof on bead. b of tape t by clamper dies 45, 46. ScoopI051: is shown clamped upon tape t in its final form, with tongues I06gripped about bead b and withv the side indulations Iilta absenttherefrom, these latter surfaces being swaged into the scoop element, asit is smoothed out into the final required shape, in a manner to bedescribed. The continuous scoop strip s is advanced against stationarypunch die 24 in the manner previously described, the wings I of theforward end of strips encircling complemental projecting. section 25a ofdie 25. Coacting female die 23 is shown in broken lines to avoidconfusion. As previously described, female punch 21 is verticallyreciprocated in block 28 (Figure 5). and is slidable in the blockthrough grooves 21". The. female die. is recessed, as at 21b, to coactwith. the protruding portion 25a of male die 25.. As female punch21-descends, legs 21a thereof over-lap the sides of strip s and forcethev inner strip downward. against protruding section. 25a of die 25. Aclean shearing action is effective against punching surface 25a to,smoothly shape the scoop elements in the form shown at Hi4.

Scoop element I04: is shown intermediate of scoop element I05 beingclamped about tape: it

and. the unsevered end of continuousstripzs; vIn 7 the illustrated form,one scoop element I04 isin reserve. and free. between the scoop elementI05 in process, of being clamped about the bead of tape. it and thescoop strip s, insuring better physical separation of the dies 25, 21and formerclamper dies. 45, 46. It is to be understood that my inventionmay equally well be practiced with more than one. intermediate scoopelement (corally against the. beaded portion of the, tape as indicatedby the. arrows in Figures 5 and 6.

After dies 45, 46 are brought together and scoop I05 is clamped ontotape as shown, the dies. 45, 46 are. reversibly actuated, as previouslydescribed, permitting the upward advancement of tape 12 in an amountcorresponding to predetermined spacing between zipper elements I05athereon. During the advancement of tape t, female punch 21 isreciprocated upwards, permitting buffer block 29 to lift, the free endof scoop strip s, the strip being advanced by the intermittentfrictional feed mechanism, as previously described, to locate the freeend thereof against intermediate scoop element I04, which in turn ismoved against bead b of tape t, since scoop element I05 has. previouslybeen advanced upwards to the position of the scoop shown at IBM. inFigure 6. The female die 21 then descends, coacting with punch die 25 tosever another scoop from the end of strip s, corresponding to scoop I04.in Figure; 6.

As will be. observed, the clamping dies 45, 46 are of. the compoundtype,..the opposed ends 45a, 46a of the upper die sections" IIO., beingconformed to. perform the. final shaping of the scoops concurrently withthe pressing of the wings I06 into gripping engagement with the bead. ofthe tape, the undulations I03a in the sides: ofthe elements I03, aspresented to-the die faces, being displaced inwardly in this operationinto the. wings to increase their cross-sectional areaand produce. thescoop in its ultimate form, as at I136. The opposed ends 451) and 46b ofthe lower die. sections I H cooperate to initially clamp the scoopelements,v as at I05, to the tape bead and conform the wings for thecompletion of the forming and clamping operation, in the upward,progression of the. element tov the clampinggposition, it being manifestthat as the clamping: operation is being performed with respect to theuppermost. element in the die position, the next below element is beingpartially shaped in the preliminary clamping of the element to the tapepreparatory to its upward advancement,

It; is; to, be understood, that further die sections may be incorporatedin the set of dies 45,, 46 to perform other functions or to separatethis function from the intermediate shaping, and. final smoothingoperation. The shaper die: surfaces 4541-4611., are of. such length thatthey envelop entire. length of each. side of the scoop being mounted, sothat substantially the entire sheared scoop blank is shaped thereby.

The. plurality of operations by the dies 45,. 46, operated insynchronism with the. motivation of tape 1: and scoop strip s,simplifies the construction'of the machine as a whole, and minimizes thespace requirement, and reduces the expanse of its construction. Theindividual sections of the clamper dies for intermediately shaping thescoops and imparting to them their final form in clamped position ontape t is accomplished in stages one above the other, spaced by thepredetermined distance of scoops on tape t. The continuous scoop strip sis rolled or otherwise preformed into the described shape to permit thesevering of the scoops corresponding to the shape shown at IUI in,Figure 6 in a single punch operation of the dies corresponding to 25,21. One or more, or no intermediate scoops corresponding to NH may bestored between punch dies 25, 2'! and the shaper-clamper dies 45, 46.

As will be seen from Figure 1, the cam shafts 24 and are driven from theshaft 42 through bevel gears H2, the shaft 42 having a pulley H3 keyedto the outer end thereof, formed for the reception of a V belt H4,connectable to a pulley on a suitable motor (not shown) or other powertransmitting means. The three shafts are journaled insuitableanti-friction bearings H5,

for rotation in the same horizontal plane, in

association with the usual removable retainers I I6, for facilitatingthe assembly of the drive. This arrangement provides a compact, rigidlayout which is extremely durable under high speed operating conditionsand also expedites the effecting of such adjustments and repairs as maybe required, in which connection it may be noted that the cam 4| whichoperates the die-actuating lever 38 is carried by the driving. shaft 42,

so that the heaviest load is imposed directly on this shaft, with theattendant operational advantages and the elimination of possiblebacklash in the gearing, as would result in sustained operation werethis load imposed on a gear driven shaft, as in piror art devices.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in themethod and details of the exemplification without departing from thegeneral spirit of the invention as set.

forth in the following claims.

, I claim:

l. A machine for forming lengths of tape mounting groups of uniformlyspaced scoops for slide fastener assembly, comprising a cutting deviceincluding a stationary and avertically reoiprocable shearing die,shaping and clamping dies associated with said cutting device to providea die station in said machine, means for intermittently advancing astrip of embryo fastener elements to said station, for successiveseverance therefrom of individual elements to be progressivelyintroduced to said shaping'and clamping dies for conversion into scoops,said strip-advancing'means comprising a reciprocable device and arockably mounted member associated therewith for frictionally' engagingsaid strip during the movement of the reciprocable device in onedirection to intermittently advance the strip toward the-die station,means for feeding a beaded tape through'said die station in a continuousuniform step-by-step movement for the clamping of the severed elementsto the bead of the tape in spaced relation, in a final scoopformingoperation through the action of said shaping and clamping dies, meansfor operating said strip-advancing means, said cutting device and saidshaping and clamping dies in timed re-- lation to the movement of thetape, ,means for locking said vertically reciprocable shearing die ingripping engagement with said strip to arrest the advancement of thislatter, and means operable at predetermined intervals for actuating saidmeans for locking the shearing die during the advancement of the tape toprovide blank spaces between adjacent groups of scoops clamped to saidtape. I

2. A machine for forming lengths of tape mounting groups of uniformlyspaced scoops for slide fastener assembly, comprising a cutting deviceincluding a stationary and a verticallymovable shearing die, shaping andclamping dies associated with said cutting device to provide a diestation in said machine, means for intermittently advancing a stripof'connected embryo fastener elements to said station, for successiveseverance therefrom of individual elements to be progressivelyintroduced to said shaping and clamping dies for conversion into scoops,means for feeding a beaded tape through said die station in a continuousuniform step-by-step movement for the clamping of the severed elementsto the head of the tape in spaced relation, in a final scoop-formingoperation, mechanism for operating said strip-advancing means, saidcutting device and said shaping and clamping dies in timed relation tothe movement of the tape, said operating mechanism comprising a drivingshaft, a second shaft mounted in parallelism with said shaft and driventherefrom and a vertically reciprocable device operatively connected tothe driving shaft for the actuation of said vertically movable shearingdie, a pivoted member movable to a position for locking said verticallyreciprocable device at the end of its downward stroke, to lock saidvertically movable shearing die in its lowermost position in arrestingcontact with said strip to prevent advancement thereof, and

tently advancing a strip of connected embryo fastener elements to saidstation, for successive severance therefrom of individual elements to beprogressively introduced to said shaping and clamping dies forconversion into scoops, means forfeeding a beaded tape through said diestation in a continuous uniform step-'by-stepmovement for the'clampingof the severed elements to the bead of the tape in spaced relation, in afinal scoop-forming operation, mechanism for operating saidstrip-advancing means, said cutting de-' vice and said shaping andclamping dies in timed relation to the movement of the tape, saidoperating mechanism comprising a driving shaft, a second shaft mountedin parallelism with said shaft and driven therefrom and a verticallyreciprocable device operatively connected to the driving shaft for theactuation of said vertically movable shearing die, a pivoted membermovable to a position for locking said vertically reciprocable device atthe end of its downwardstroke,

' to lock said vertically movable shearing die-v in its lowermostposition in arresting contact with said strip to prevent advancementthereof, means actuated by said second shaft for normally maintainingsaid pivoted member inoperative, and

:6 means associated with said last-mentioned means for periodicallymoving said pivoted member to its die-locking position during themovement of the tape, to provide blank spaces between ad jacent groupsof scoops clamped to the tape.

4. A machine for forming lengths of tape mounting groups of uniformlyspaced scoops for slide fastener assembly, comprising a cutting deviceincluding a stationary and a vertically movable shearing die, shapingand clamping dies associated with said cutting device to provide a diestation in said machine, means for intermittently advancing a strip ofconnected embryo fastener elements to said station, for successiveseverance therefrom of individual elements to be progressivelyintroduced to said shaping and clamping dies for conversion into scoops,said stripadvancing means comprising a reciprocable device and arockable member associated therewith for frictionally engaging saidstrip during the movement of the reciprocable device in one direction,to intermittently advance the strip toward the die station, means forfeeding a beaded tape through said die station in a continuous uniformstep-by-step movement for the clamp ing of the severed elements to thehead of the tape in spaced relation, in a final scoop-forming operation,mechanism for operating said stripadvancing means and said respectivedies in timed relationto the feeding of the tape, said op eratingmechanism comprising a driving shaft, a second shaft mounted inparallelism with said shaft and driven therefrom and a verticallyreciprocable device operatively connected to the driving shaft for theactuation of said vertically movable shearing die, a pivoted memberrotatable to a position for locking said vertioally reciprocable deviceat the end of its downward stroke, to lock said vertically. movableshearing die in its lowermost position in arresting contact with saidstrip vancement thereof, and means actuated by said driven shaft forperiodically rotating said pivoted member to its die-locking positionduring the movement of the tape, to provide blank spaces betweenadjacent groups of scoops, the rockable member forming part of thestrip-advancing means slidably traversing the strip toward .and from thedie station during the periods of arrested movement of the strip.

-5. A machine for forming lengths of tape mounting groups of uniformlyspaced scoops for slide fastener assembly, comprising coacting diesforming a cutting device. one of said dies being a shearing diereciprocable in a vertical plane, shapin and clamping dies associatedwith the cutting device to provide a die station in said machine, meansfor intermittently advancing a strip of connected embryo fastenerelements to said die station, for successive severance there- .from,through the operation of said cutting device, of individual elements tobe progressively introduced to said shaping and clamping dies forconversion into scoops in clamped engagement with a tape traversing saiddie station, means for feeding said tape through said die station in acontinuous uniform step-by-step movement, mechanism for actuating saidstrip-advancing means, said shaping and clampin dies and said cuttingdevice in timed relation to the move ment of the tape, a rockable leverfor engaging said vertically reciprocable shearing die and depressingthe same to a position in gripping engagement with said strip, a shaftcarrying cam means for actuating said lever, means for drivto preventad- 'a pivoted member movable ing said shaft, a second shaft mounted inparalllelism with said cam shaft and driven thereby, a member mountedfor rotation in a horizontal plane .to a position for locking said leverin movement-restraining engagement with said reciprocable shearing dieto maintain the same in its depressed position, thereby arresting theadvancement of the strip, and means actuated by said second shaft forperiodically rotating said member ,to its lever-locking position duringthe feeding of the tape.

6. A machine for forming lengths of tape mounting groups of uniformlyspaced scoops for slide fastener assembly, comprising a cutting deviceincluding a' stationary and a vertically movable die, shaping andclamping dies associated with saidcutting device to provide a diestation in said machine, means for intermittently advancing a strip ofconnected embryo fastener elements to said station, for successiveseverance therefrom of individual elements to be progressivelyintroduced to said shaping and clamping dies for conversion into scoops,means for feeding a beaded tape through said die station in a continuousuniform step-by-step movement for the clamping of the severed elementsto the bead of the tape in spaced relation, in a final scoopformingoperation, mechanism for operatingsaid strip-advancing means, saidcutting device and said shaping and clamping diesin timed relation tothe movement of the tape, said operating mechanism comprising a drivingshaft, a second shaft mounted in parallelism with said shaft and driventherefrom and a vertically reciprocable device operatively connected tothe driving shaft for the actuation of said vertically movable die,

to a position for locking said vertically reciprocable device at the endof its downward stroke, to lock said vertically movable die in itslowermost position in arresting contact with said strip to preventadvancement thereof, a continuous element driven by said second shaft,rockable means operatively associated with said continuous element fornormally holding said pivoted member inoperative, and cam means carriedby said continuous element for movement therewith for periodicallyoscillating said rockable means to cause said pivoted member toperiodically move to its dielockin position during the advancement ofthe tape.

'7. A machine for forming lengths of tape mounting groups of uniformlyspaced scoops for slidefastener assembly, comprising a cutting deviceincluding a stationary and a vertically reciprocable die, shaping andclamping dies associated with said cutting device to provide a diestation in said machine, means for intermittently advancing a strip ofconnected embryo fastener elements to said die station for successiveseverance therefrom of individual elements to be progressivelyintroduced to said shaping and clamping dies for conversion into scoopsin clamped engagement with a tape traversing said die station, a drivingshaft, a second shaft mounted in parallelism with said driving shaft, a'third shaft disposed transversely of said shafts in torque-receivingconnection with the driving shaft and in torque-transmitting connectionwith the second shaft. a cam on said third shaft for actuating saidstrip-advancing means, mechanism for operating said cutting device, acam on said driving shaft for actuating said mechanism in timed relationwith the advancement of the strip, mechanism for operating said shapingand ing the movement of the tape for actuating said clamping diescomprising a pair of. slides horizontally reciprocable transversely ofvthe path of movement of the strip and carrying said dies, cams on saiddriving shaft and on said second shaft for conjointly actuating saidslides in timed relation to the actuation of the cutting device, meansfor feeding the tape through the die station in a continuous uniformstep-by-step movement for the clamping of the individual fastenerelements to the tape in spaced relation, a cam on said driving shaft foractuating said tape-feeding means in timed relation to the advancementof the strip, means for locking said vertically reciprocable die ingripping engagement with the strip to arrest the advancement thereof,and a device operable at predetermined intervals during the movement ofthe tape for actuatin said die-locking means, to provide blank spacesbe-- tween adjacent groups of scoops clamped to the tape.

8. In a machine for forming lengths of tape mounting groups of uniformlyspaced scoops for slide fastener assembly, in combination, a cuttingdevice comprising a vertically reciprocable die,

I shaping and clamping dies associated with said cutting device to forma die station in said machine, means for intermittently advancing astrip of connected partially formed fastener elements to said diestation for successive severance therefrom of individual elements to beprogressively converted into scoops, means for feeding a tape throughthe die station in a continuous uniform step-by-step movement for theclamping of the severed elements to the tape in spaced relation, meansincluding a plurality of shafts rotating at the same speed and cams onsaid shafts for actuating said strip-advancing means, said cuttingdevice and said shaping and clamping dies in synchronism with themovement of the tape, mechanism for locking said vertically reciprocabledie in gripping engagement with said strip to arrest the advancement ofthis latter, and a device operable at predetermined intervals durdie-locking means to provide blank spaces of like area between adjacentgroups of scoops clamped to said tape.

' 9. A machine for forming lengths of tape mounting groups of uniformlyspaced scoops for slide fastener assembly, comprising co-acting cuttingdies, shaping and clamping dies associated with said cutting dies toprovide a die station in saidmachine, means for intermittently advancinga strip of connected partially formed fastener elements to said diestation, for successive severance therefrom of individual elements to beprogressively introduced to said shaping and clamping dies forconversion into scoops in clamped engagement with a tape traversing said'die station, means for feeding the tape through the die station in'acontinuous uniform step-bystep movement, mechanism for operating saidcutting dies including a lever rockably mounted for movement in a planeat a right angle to the path of movement of said strip to the diestation, a cam follower carried by said lever, a shaft mounted parallelto the path of movement of said strip, a cam on said shaft, yieldablemeans for maintaining said cam follower in engagement with said cam andmeans for driving said shaft to actuate said lever to engagingly operatesaid cutting dies in timed relation to the operation of the shaping andclamping dies and the movement of the tape through the die station, ashaft mounted in parallelism with said cam shaft and driven therefrom,means movable to a position for lockingly engaging said lever in itsdie-operating position to arrest the movement of said cutting dies instrip-engaging position, to prevent the advancement of the strip, andmeans propelled from said driven shaft for periodically actuating saidmovable means to their leverlocking position during the movement of thetape.

LOUIS M. RABINOWITZ.

